Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the case of a person (details supplied), a teacher who has held their current position since 1995, has had their pay reduced since 2010, arising from an administrative decision at that stage to switch the payment of their salary from their school to the Department of Education and Skills and the subsequent failure of the Teaching Council to recognise their qualifications for registration as a second level teacher; if he will consider this decision in the context of other teaching posts which this person holds in the area of further education where they continue to be paid at the correct qualified rate; if in the circumstances he considers it necessary to amend the legislation establishing the Teaching Council to provide for a grandmother clause to cater for such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27059/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Firstly I wish to advise the Deputy that only teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed and who are registered with the Teaching Council are entitled to payment at the qualified rate. It is a matter for the Teaching Council to determine the individual's suitability in this regard. Enquiries in relation to Teaching Council registration should be made directly to the Teaching Council by telephone on LoCall 1890 224224 or +353 (0)1 651 7909 or by email to primaryregistration@teachingcouncil.ie.

Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, which is not yet commenced, will require everyone in publicly funded teaching posts to be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from the Exchequer. The only exception to this will be in very limited, short-term circumstances where a registered teacher is not available. The recent enactment of the Education (Amendment) Act 2012 will facilitate section 30 becoming law. My Department and the Teaching Council have issued information to teachers and schools informing them of the forthcoming legal requirements. Further consideration can be given by my officials to the case referred to by the Deputy once the qualifications of the teacher in question have been assessed by the Teaching Council.